Compare towns
Barnard vs Dummerston vs Hooksett vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnard has the most kids (26.9% under 18).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Westford has the most expensive homes ($425k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Barnard | Dummerston | Hooksett | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,211Lowest |
2,090 |
15,057Highest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.4±6 9% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6 13% above U.S. |
| Dummerston and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Barnard and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dummerston and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,581±$19kLowest 21% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12k 40% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $402,600±$71k 21% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$424,500±$21kHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Westford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,372±$80Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Westford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,038 94% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$6,282 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dummerston and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Barnard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Hooksett School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.